One Shots | a. hotchner |

Are you alright?

Summary: Aaron comes home from a long case. Already knowing he's having a hard time dealing with this one, you try and help him through it. All you want to do is take care of him.

Warnings: Talk of the case, mention of rape and murder

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Letting the water wash over you, your mind wanders over to Aaron. He'd been gone on a case for over a week now.

Its been silent almost everyday at the BAU while the team and your boyfriend were gone in Maine trying to solve this case.

You were trying your best to try and help him, keeping the BAU in order. It wasnt your job to do that but it was something so he wouldnt be as stressed when he came back.

While the team was running in circles Aarons mind was always somewhere else, all he wanted to do was curl up in bed with you beside him.

His head throbbed in pain and his body ached.

He called you every night, giving you an update on his well being. You tried to keep him sane as much as you could.

But all that was going to get rid of his headache was your presence.

You hadnt heard from him, it was odd. Slowly over the hours you grew to enjoy the little communication you had with him during the cases.

You turned the shower off the reached out for the towel next to you. Wrapping the soft fabric around your body you walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.

It was calm in the house, there was a storm outside the window beginning to form.

You always enjoyed them, when the flashes of lightning luminated your room. It was the most calming thing you could think of.

You wanted to be buried in your bed while the crashes of thunder struck in the clouds.

Being too focused on the storm outside you didnt notice the clicking of the front door downstairs.

You dropped the towel and wandered over to his closet, missing him even more, seeing his clothes hung up. You grabbed one of his t-shirts and threw it over your body.

Letting the scent of him surround you. The smell grew stronger, it felt like he was really there.

That's what you thought until you felt an intense sense of pressure behind you.

Turning around you were met with broken warm brown eyes. His face was turned to sorrow, he missed you.

You threw your arms around his body and Aaron held you just as tightly. "Hi sweetheart."

Your fingers played with the hair on the nape of his neck. "When did you get back?"

"Four hours ago, there was some paperwork I needed to finish before I could come home."

His thumb stroked your cheek and he tugged you in for a gentle sweet kiss. He just wanted to feel you were really there with him, that he wasnt going to wake up in the hotel room.

You pressed your forehead with his, "I missed you."

"I missed you too baby."

"Let's get you out of these." You had been with Aaron long enough to know when he wanted to be cared for. He was normally the one needing to be protective and caring over you.

But once and a while it was evident that he needed the same from you. This was that moment.

He let you side his blazer off of his arms and you neatly folded it and placed it on the dresser. Doing the same with his button up and tie.

You got him some pajamas while he finished undressing, "Do you wanna talk about it?" He nodded softly.

You set the clothes in his arms and you walked downstairs to get some tea ready.

You were sure he hadnt eaten yet today so you grabbed a muffin from the counter and waited for him to come down.

The heavy footsteps heading closer alerted you that he was coming.

Pouring two glasses of tea you both moved to the couch, What happened? 

You laid down first and he settled between your legs, his back rested on your chest, and his head on your shoulder. Aarons hands ran up and down you outer thigh.

The gesture was everything but sexual. It was Aarons way of grounding himself.

Aaron took a deep breath, "He raped them... stabbing them in the face and abdomen after he was done. Then he burned the body afterwards as a forensic countermeasure. It was fine in the beginning, just like any other case but--." He took a steady breath, "It took a while to figure out who the victims were but when we discovered who they were, they looked like you. Not completely but it was enough to mess with my head."

You wrapped your arms across his chest and pulled him in closer to you. His hand went to yours and held on, "I just kept thinking that you were at home, alone. I couldnt stop myself from thinking the worst, thats why I always called, to hear your voice but to also make sure you were okay."

You furrowed your brows and smiled sadly, "I can take of myself Aaron."

He huffed in amusement, "I know you can, thats why I didnt leave automatically but again, its just the thought."

"The minds powerful."

"Dont I know it."

You finished the majority of the conversation and he ate the muffin, admitting that he hadnt eaten in two days, being too anxious to do so.

You gripped his hand and led him upstairs to the bedroom, you both laid down under the covers.

Usually his arms would wrap around your torso and he would hold you close but in this moment you knew better.

You didnt question it when his head rested against your chest, his ear being close to your heart, hearing that you were still there. You let your fingers run through his hair and he relaxed to your touch.

"That's not all he did."

You attention shifted from focusing on sleep to the words that were falling from his lips.

"He would also split them open after they were burned. He strung them up and mutilated their bodies. Slicing open their stomach, letting every fall out."

It broke you inside to know that while this case normally wouldnt have an affect on him, he was struggling with everything. Every victim fucked with his head, working at the BAU desensitizes you from things like that but this one got to him.

"Its okay baby, Im still here." You murmured.

"I know." He whispered.

You both let the thunderstorm drown out your thoughts and drift you to sleep. Trying to no think about the horrors that were outside of the house.